Electrode-box for liquid-purifying apparatus.



H. B. HARTMAN.

ELEGTRODE BOX FOB. LIQUID PURIFYING APPARATUS. APPLIUATION FILBDMAY 22,1909.

951,314. u Patented Mar. 1910.

The object of the invention is to provide- `termediate the electrodes.

,4l- 4, Fig.'2 Fig. 5 is aelongitudinal section structed of metal and joined by any suitable UNrTED sfrarns PATENT ormoni.

HARRY B. HARTMAN, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSICTNOR lTO"-IVICDOVVIELI MANUFACTURING CO]l/-}?Al.\l'Y, OF'PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA. l'

EnEcTRonE-Box ron LIQUID-PURIFYING Arrrtnfitrus.'

To all whom it'may concern: I Be it known that I, HARRY B. HARTMAN, 'i resident of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, -have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electrode-Boxes for Liquid-Purifying Apparatus, of which't-he following is a speci-A iication.

This invention relates to electrolytic liquid purifying apparatus, and more particularly to the construction of an electrode box wherein the liquid is treated by an electric current.r y

an electrode box for the purpose specified which is of simple and durable construction, in which the electrodes -or plates can be readily cleaned, which is so insulated as to prevent leakage of current as far as possible,

and which is so constructed as to permit ready variation of the distances between the electrode plates to meet various conditions and qualities of liquid, and which also provides a coagulation and reaction space in- The invention comprises the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described andclaimed. 4

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is in part a top plan view and in part a horizontal. section through the electrode box; Fig. Q is a verticalcentral longitudinal section through the lbox on the line 2 2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a portion of the box; F ig. 4 is a cross-section on the line:

through one -of theJ insulating pipe sections;

Fig. 5l

The box comprises the main body portion 1 consisting of ends, sides and bottom, and a cover l2. These parts are preferably con means so that the box can be hermetically sealed.

Inside of the body 1' is 'a layer of suitable plastic insulataing 4material 3, such as cementbut preferably asphaltum, and inside ofthis is anl insulating lining 4 formed either of glass, porcelain, slate or the'lilge, being shown as composed of slate and com specification of Letters Patent. Patented vAppneation,ined may a2, 190e.` seriaiNo. 4973732. i

prising end, side and bottom portions. The cover 2 is hkewise lmed on its inner surface with a plate orslab 5 of glass porcelain, slate or other suitable insulating material.

The means shown for connecting the cover l to the box comprises a plurality' of bolts G pivoted at 7 between ears 8 on the sides and ends of the body of thejbox, andadapted to lswing up through slots 9 formed in the edges of the cover, andbeing provided at their upper ends with nuts 10. This provides for securely holding the cover on the box and one which will permitthe ready removal of the cover and in which they fastening means cannot be accidentally dropped or become lost. Any other fastening means, however, would answer the purpose. vA gasketll of rubber or other suitable yieldin'g'material will be placed between the vc over'and the body in order tol provide a liquid iand gas tight' seal. f y I f ,The inner face ofthe side walls of the lining et of the box are providedl with-oppositely disposed recesses 13 running 'from top to bottom. and inthese 'are lseated grooved plates or strips 14. "I`hese plates or ystrips are provided with the grooves 15 for receiving the electrode plates 16. 'The drawings showfeach strip 15 provided wit-h three l'grooves for receiving three electrode plates.

but obviously the 'number can be varied as desired. The strips 14 can be made of hard rubber, liber, wood. or other suitable material and are readily rem'ovable'endwise in order to permitthe same tobe replaced by strips having grooves differently spaced so as to vary' the distances between the electrode vplates as is necessary when treating.

different charactersof liquid. yFor4 instance, water containing a large percentage of acid or mineralmatter 'necessitates the' plates being placed farther apart onjaccountrof the greater conductivity of the water, while with water which contains littleconducting impurities the platesmust be vpla-ced closer together. By` providing the boxes with recessed walls 'containing t-he vremovable grooved plates I'Vprovide for the .ready change of the box to i eet these'jvaried con# ditions; j

The electrode platesA 1 6 are preferably formed of aluminum, or of an .alloy cont-aining aluminum. The 'two outside or end plates ofthe group are connected to the .electrical terminals and linorder topermit Y Y ,struction is used: Connected to each of the i plates, thence down between the same and of time and permitting the oxygen or ozone lclamp the clip 17 therebetween so as to give i v at stated intervals, as more fully described same, and the outside plates fit closely the ready removal of the plates without disturbing the terminals the following conplates is a met-al clip 17,.preferably of aluminum, projecting horizontally away from the electrode plate and provided with a vertical opening 4receiving the upturned end 18 of a rod 19 extending through a suitable insulated stutiing box 2Q in a side wall of the box, and provided on its outer end with binding post or nuts 21 to which the electric conductor is attached. Nuts 23V are threaded on t-liefupturned end 18 ot' the rod 19 and a good electrical connection. One ot the rods 19 of the group'of plates is connected to one side of the supply circuit while the other rod is connected to the opposite side of the supply circuit. Any current can be used, either an alternate current or a direct current in which latter case suitable means will`be providedv for reversing the current in my application tiled-March 3, 1908,- Serial No. 418,745.

rl`he three plates of each group are so arranged as shown in Fig. 2, that the liquid flows in over thetop ot' one of the outside the middle plate, underneath the latter and up between the latter and the other outside plate, and then over the top ofv the latter. The upper end of the middle plate isshown seated in a groove in the lining 5 `ot the cover so that liquid cannot pass over the against the bottom of thebox for asimilar purpose. Instead of having the plates stop short oit the top and 'bottom to permit the water to pass v'over or under the same as shown, these plates might extend fully from top to bottom and be provided with openings at their top and bottom ends respec tively through which the liquid passes.

The box is provided with a plurality of groups or sets of electrode plates in order to subject -the liquid to several treatments by the electric current during its passage through the box, the box shown in the drawing having two such groups, but obviously any greater or lesser number may housed.' The plates of the several groups are identical and identically arranged, but may ot course be varied as desired or necessary.A Between the several groups of electrode plates is a large chamber 27 which serves as a coagulation and reaction chamber. Its cross-sectional area is many times larger than the space between the electrode plates so that the liquid in said chamber 27 flows only very slowly,` or is fairly uiescent,thusI holding the liquid for a consi erable period and the salts generated by the .electric current to react on the impurities 1n the liquid and to coagulate the saine. To prevent tht liquid settling in a pocket in the bottom of said mixing chamber and also to assist in mixing the liquid, I provide a balile plate 28 substantially at the center of the chamber .l

27' and extending down from the top but. not quite vto the bottom of the box, and

which compels the liquidV coming from the .lirst set of electrode plates to low downwardly and pass underneath said baille plate and thence upwardly on the opposite side before entering the second group of electrode plates. Any desired number of batlie plates may be employed. This plate 28 is slidably mounted inl grooves 29 in the side walls of the box, so that it can be readily reiinoved when the cover of the box Ais taken o To permit the ready cleaning ot the platesV and box, the bottom of the lining of the box underneath each group 'ot' electrode plates is provided with an opening il() which communicates with an open box 31 set in the asphaltum in"the box and extending y down into a .tapering or downwardly sloping project-ing portion or hopper 31 on the bottoni of the box, thc latter being pro- `vided with a flush outlet 32 controlled by a suitable cut-ott' valve 323. In cleaning, the

cover is' removed and the middle plates s pulled ont, which permits the insertion ot a suitable cleaning brush or the like between the two outside .electrode plates, t'o brush ott1 the deposit on the latter. lVith a reversed current, as described in my application aforesaid, the deposits on the plates Slough ott troni time to time .so that little cleaning is necessary, and even when necessary canA be quickly effected, as the deposit on the plates is very sott.- The deposits drop down into the projections or hoppers 31 and can be blown out Jtroni time to time by merely opening the valves 38. A flushing opening St controlled by a blow ott' cock 35, is also' provided through `the bottom at about the i middle of the mixing chamber 27.

The inlet or supply is through a pipe 36 entering vthrough one end of the box andthe outlet is through the service pipe 37 extending' through the opposite end of the box near the top so that the box is always maintained full of liquid and the plates are kept covered. v

In order to thoroughly insulate the box and preventleakage of electric current as far as possible, said box is supported upon a suitable insulating base, shown as a stand 38 uponv which rest bodies or buttons 39 of glass, porcelain or other suitable in sulatiingr material, and projecting up socketsd() in the bottoni of the box. This thoroughly insulates the metal box from the stand 38. The su ply and service pipes or ianges 44 secure to the pipe sections, shown as consisting of sections ot' glass into shown. and serve to clamp the glass pipe sections `4t2 between said flanges. rFhis breaks the continuity of -the metallic supply and service pipes so that there can hie no leakage of electric current except the small amount which conducted. through the liquid. Y

' The box described is of simple anddurable construction, is absolutely sealed so as to retain all the gases generated by the electric current and give'the same opportunity to act on the organic matter in the liquid, provides for several treatments of the liquid by means of the electric current, with an intermediate'coagulation and reaction on the same, can be readily cleaned, can be easily varied to get the proper space between ,the plates lfor the treatment of different. characters ofliquids, and is so thoroughly insulated that leakage and wastage of the come.

The box can be built of any desired size and any desired number of groups of electrode plates may be provided therein.

The box is adapted for any character of current. but preferably an alternating or a periodically reversed direct current. The terminals are connected merely to the outside plates of each group, the middle or in-` termediate plate becoming a -bi-polar plate. Any number of such intermediate plates may be used in any one group, but in all cases there will preferably be an odd number of plates. in order that the water may leave as well as enter at the upper end of the plates.

lf desired all the plates may be connected in the circuit, but the arrangement shown in the drawings is preferred as it peimitstlie ready removal of the intermediate plate or plates'for cleaning, and also the easy removal of the outside plates by merely taking off the top nuts 23,' after which said plates can be slipped'endwise out of the box.

lVhat I claim is: A 1. Electrolytic liquid purifying apparatus comprising a box, a plurality o removable vertical elect-rode plates therein arranged to intercept the passage through the box and Y cause all the liquid'to How therebetween in zigzag course up and down, a removable cover sealing said box and holding the plates in position. a flushing outlet underneath said plates, plates.

2. Electrolytic liqiiid purifying apparatus comprising a box, Aa plurality of sets of removable vertieal electrode plates therein arranged to intercept the passage through the and electrical connections to said box and cause all -the liquid`to flow therebetween in zigzag course up and down, said sets of plates being arranged with an intervening eoagulating and reaction space of much greater cross-sectioi'ial area than the passage between said plates, a removable cover sealing said box and holding the plates in position. and electrical connections to said plates. y'

3. lll-lectrolytic4 liquidV purifying apparatusl comprising a box, a plurality of sets of removable vertical electrodes therein arranged to intercept the passage through the box and cause all the liquid to flow therebetween in zigzag course up and down. said setsof 'plates being arranged with an intervening coagulating and reaction space of much greater' cross-sectional area than the passage between 4said plates. a. flushing outlet beneath each set of plates, a removable cover sealing said box and holding the plates in position, and electrical connections to said plates.

i. Electrolytic liquid purifying apparatus comprising a sealed electrode box, a plurality of sets of electrode plates therein ar.

, ranged to cause all the liquid to flow thereelectric current is practically entirely over- `comprising an electrode box, a plurality of sets of electrode .plates therein with an in tervening reaction space, each set comprising a. plurality of odd number of plates 'with the inlet and outlet at the. tops of the outside plates and the intermediate plate arranged to give azi'gzag up and down .course to the liquid.

' G. Electrolytic liquid purifying apparatus comprising an electrode box, av plurality of sets of electrode plates therein with an iiiterveiiingreaction space. eachset of plates comprising a plurality of odd number of plates with the inlet and outlet at the tops of the outside plates and theintermediate plate arranged to give a zigzag up and down flow,v

and a battle plate -in the reaction space prowise and upwardly, and a 4flushing outlet. i

through the bottom of the box below said plates. r

8. Electrolytic liquid purifying apparatus t comprising an electrode. box, a group of vertical electrode plates therein comprising outside plates and an intermediate late, the intermediate plate beingsupporte solely in vertical guides and removable vertically, and

electric connections to the outside plates, said connections being separable vertically.

9. Electrolytie'liqnid purifying apparatus comprising an electrode box, interchangeable grooved strips secured in the side Walls of said box in a manner to perinit their ready removal, and electrode plates slidably held in the grooves of said strips.

10. Electrolytic liquid purifying apparatus comprising an electrode box, vertically arranged interchangeable groove-d strips secured-in the side Walls of said box in a inanner to permit their ready removal, electrode I plates slidably fitting in the grooves o said plates, and electric terminals connected to the outside plates by means of connections separable vertically.

11.' Electrolytic liquid purifying appara tus comprising an electrode box having recessed side ivalls, interchangeable grooved strips removably seated in said Walls, and electrode plates slidably held in the grooves of said strips.

'Eleetrolytio liquid purifying appara tas comprising an electrode box provided with vertical recesses in its side Walls, inter-.

changeable grooved strips in said recesses, and electrode plates slidablyy held in the grooves ot' said strips.

In, testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

HARRY B. HARTMAN.

Witnesses: i

HOWARD NEELY, F. W. WINTER. 

